Finnish Contemporary Art Explores Materiality and Perception in Berlin
Finnland-Institut exhibition highlights cross-border artistic experimentation and dialogue
May 22nd, 2026
The Finnland-Institut in Berlin is currently presenting Reaching, Grasping, Wondering, an exhibition by German-Finnish artist Kaarina-Sirkku Kurz, curated by Mirjami Schuppert. Part of the long-running Visiting Art/ist Programme, the exhibition showcases a selection of works developed over recent years and invites audiences to engage with questions of materiality, perception, and the limits of representation. An artist talk with Kurz is scheduled for 9 June 2026, offering further insight into her evolving practice.
Kurz’s work navigates the tension between the tangible and the intangible, often interrogating how photography mediates reality. In her Supernature series, objects are removed from their original contexts and presented in ways that disrupt familiarity, while tightly cropped compositions and references to bodily fragmentation evoke a sense of estrangement. Similarly, in Vom Fremdsein in der Welt, the absence of the human figure is articulated through carefully arranged objects, reflecting themes of disconnection and reconfiguration. Across these works, photography becomes both a tool of reduction and a means of probing what resists articulation.
Her recent series Soft Code marks a further departure from traditional photographic formats by incorporating hand-woven textiles derived from binary code based on her self-portraits. By translating digital images into tactile forms, Kurz challenges the perceived immateriality of digital media and reasserts the physical presence of the image. This interplay between analogue and digital, surface and structure, underscores her broader artistic inquiry into how meaning is constructed and perceived through fragmented and recombined elements.
Presented within the framework of the Visiting Art/ist Programme, the exhibition reflects Finland’s sustained investment in cultural diplomacy through contemporary art. By supporting Finnish artists based in Germany and facilitating their engagement with international audiences, the Finnland-Institut strengthens cultural ties within the European context. Such initiatives not only promote artistic exchange but also contribute to the visibility and mobility of creative professionals, reinforcing the strategic importance of cultural networks in Europe’s creative economy.
Ultimately, Reaching, Grasping, Wondering demonstrates how contemporary art can serve as a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and experimentation. Through its exploration of perception, materiality, and digital transformation, the exhibition highlights the enduring relevance of artistic practice in shaping international cultural connections and fostering long-term collaboration between Finland and Germany.
